Adjustable fluid handling conduit



March 4, 1952 OOOOO D. c. WARREN 2,587,938

ADJUSTABLE FLUKID HANDLING CONDUIT Original Filed May ll, 1948 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 FFlcE ADJUSTABLE FLUID HANDLING CONDUIT Doyle C. Warren, Altadena, Calif., assignor to Chiksan Company, Brea, Calif., a corporation of California Original application May 11, 1948, Serial No. 26,265. Divided and this application October 11, 1949, Serial No. 120,633

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable uid handling conduit, and it is a general object of the invention `to provide a simple, practical and easily operated structure for handlingfluids at high velocities.

The apparatus of the present invention can be used generally in combination with a nozzle or the like, or where iiuid is to be discharged from a nozzle at high pressure or in the form of a jet. For purpose of example the apparatus will be referred to as being used in connection with a nozzle for mixing or agitating material and in a situation where a high pressure jet of fluid is delivered at a high velocity with the view of causing agitation or mixing of a body of material, such as mud, or the like. A mud mixing operation such as is referred to is generally required in connection with the drilling of wells when such wells are drilled by the rotary method and mud laden uid is employed in the course of drilling.

This application is filed as a division of application Serial No. 26,265, Apparatus for Delivering a High Pressure J et, led May 11, 1948, now Patent No. 2,501,639.

A general object of the present invention is to provide apparatusi of the general character referred to effective to handle a substantial quantity of liquid at high velocity. With the apparatus of the present invention a nozzle may be carried so that it is subject to being manipulated into any desired position and can be freely moved at will.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support for a nozzle or the like enabling the nozzle to be moved a substantial direction in any desired direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liuid handling head of the general character referred to including lock means whereby relative movement between parts of the head may be controlled or checked as circumstances require.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical embodiment of the present invention, showing it applied to a horizontally disposed supply pipe and carrying a nozzle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as indrawings.

dicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as :indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1'. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken asv indicated by tion involves, generally, a straight tubular basel` section D, an outer or neck section E, and a middle or intermediate section F. The head further involves means G coupling the inner end I0 of the middle section F with the outer end II of the base section, means H connecting the inner end I2 of the neck section with the outer end I3 of the middle section, lock means J en-w gageable to set the middle section against movement relative to the base section, and lock means K operable to set the neck section against movement relative to the middle section F.

The base section D of the head is asimple, straight, tubular part with its inner end adapted to be connected to the supply pipe P while its outer end I3 is coupled to the middle section F by the means G. In the case illustrated the end portion I4 of section D is internally threaded and the end of pipe P is threaded into the section D, as clearly vshown in Fig. 3 ofthe The middle section F of the head is a tubular L-shaped member having its inner end portion tively, are telescopically related or engaged one inside the other, the end portions I I being shown `engaged in the end portion I0.

'I'he means G coupling sections F and D connects the sections for free movement or rotation of the section F on the section D about an axis coincidental with the longitudinal axis of the `section D. The particular means G illustrated in the drawings involves a plurality of balls I5 carried in registering grooves I6 inthe overlapped portion of the sections Fand D.. The balls are adapted to be arranged in place through."

an access opening II normally closed by plug I8 and in practice lubricant is supplied to the balls through a suitable lubricant fitting I9.

In the preferred form of the invention sealing means are provided'to prevent leakage between sections F and D. In the case illustrated. a:

sealing ring 25 isV shown engaged between the end of section D and the opening in section F, which receives section D. A second sealing' ring 26 may be provided between the sections F and D to prevent lubricant from escapingvfrom the coupling balls I5 and also toY prevent foreign matter from entering between the sections F` and D to interfere with proper operation of the balls.

The inner end I2 of the neck'section E` isfjoined with the outer end I3 of the middle section F and in the case illustrated the end portion I2 isen-y gaged in the end portion I3. The means I-I couples the sections-E and F so that section Ev is freely rotatable relative to section F about 'the Y longitudinal axisof the end portion I3 of the section F, which axis is at right angles to and` intersects the axis of the inner end portion I of section F.

The means I-I may correspond in form an construction with the means G, in which case it involves balls 3U operating in grooves 3| and arrangedin placeL through an access opening 32 normally closed by. a plug 33. The balls are supplied with lubricant through a fittingV 34. A

Vsealing ring 35 prevents escape of fluid from -between sections E and F and a second sealing parent that the head involving the three sec-V tions D,E and F is such as to enable the out- Vlet or outer end Y40- of section E to be facedin various directions since the middle section `F is freely rotatable about the axis of the base section While the neckv section is freely rotatable about theaxis on which the sections. E- andA F are joined, whichlatter'axis is at right angles to that firstV mentioned.

The lock meansK- is 'provided to actbetween section E and F and when engagedlocks these sections against relative rotation. In the formV of the invention illustrated the means K involves a lock plate or ilange 50 on the neck section 40 immediately beyond or adjacent the outer` end.V

of the end portion I3' of section F, and a lock pin 5I carried by section Fto cooperate with the plate. The pin, is shown carriedby section Fto cooperate with openingsA 5I provided in the plate The plate or 'flange 50 is an annular partv extendi'ng completely around the portion I2" of section E and the openings. 52'in the plate 5'I'I` areV in an annular'seriesv concentric with Vthe axis of thev en'dfpart I2` of section' E.

The pin 5I is slidably mounted on the exterior of the end portion I3 of section F to extend Y parallel with theaxis of Yend portions I2 andi I3 The particular structure shown in the drawings involves a pin carrying bracket 53 fixed on the exterior of the end portion I3 of section F as by welding W. The bracket 53 has spaced lugs 54 and 55 with alignedopenings 56 in which the pinv 5I` is slidably carried. A helical compression spring 51 is arranged on the pin 5I between'the lugs or between lug 55 and an abutment pin 58 on pin 5I so that the spring normally-yieldinglyfurges pin 5I toward the plate 50.

The pin 5IV projects beyond lug V55 where it has a loop-shaped'portion-SIJ forming a handle easily engaged 'by' an operator. The bracket 53 is provided with a rest or shoulder 6I suitably spaced from-lug 55:.andf` adapted to be engaged by the projecting-handle'portion II'I of pin 5I when the Vpiniis rotatedf'tothe position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Further, the bracket 53 has a ilat side or shoulder 63 against which the handle portion BIJ is-located when the lock means is engaged as shown in Fi'g5.V The shoulder orface 63 holds the pin 53 against rotation and maintains theV pin on the shoulder 6I, as shown in Fig. 6, wherev it will remain until deliberately rotatedl in a manner to release itV for movement to the position shown in Fig. 5.

The lock means J actingV to lock section' F against rotation relativeto sectionD may c'orrespond in construction' to" the lock' means K above described, in' which." case the plate 5Il'is fixed on head section D"while thelock pin is carried by the head section F; The' general arrangement and relationship of the lock' means J and K will be readily` understood'from Fig'. 1 of the drawings. Y

The neck A ofthe structure is an elongate tubularpart characterizedby an innerend portion 'I U'jo'ined to andparallel with'the outer end 40 of headsection. E," aanvv outer end portion 1I" the axis of whicli intersects the Lpoint at which the axis of section` D' intersects the axes ofgthe fluid leavingthe nozzle B on' the end portion 'II' of theV neck has llittle or no tendency to'operate and to be so locatedas to enter intoor registerVV with the openings 52, one at'a time, depending.

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or construction and ifmayvary in size an'dsh'ape Y depending upon thecliaracter' of work to be performed. Iii the case illustrated the nozzleis shown as involving. an outwardly convergent' bodyV BIl'tubular in'forrn an'd`coupled to thee'nd of neck. part 'I0' by ra ctnriplingV 8'I so that fluid passedby the neck' flows therethrough andissues therefrom iria suitable'i strearrlv or jeti VIn the particular case illustrated thelneckA is on'econ- Vtinuous length`V of tubing., or the'V like, suitably shaped or bentA and'it'is" permanently joinedto the end' portion 40"of`sectio'n`E Vby weldiiig83`l' The handle Cislprovidd on or projects fi'or'n"Y the section E ofthev li'eadanol isv preferably lo-V cated so that it'exten'cls parallel? withf the endi- Vportion III ofV section" E. the' particular' case mamas illustrated the handle is an elongate bar joined to section E through a suitable boss 85, the parts being related so that the neck A extends in one direction from section E while the handle C extends in the opposite direction therefrom. By thus locating the handle and by making it of suitable length it provides a part that can be very easily handled and which makes it convenient for an operator to direct or face the nozzle in the desired manner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a head construction which may be applied to a supply pipe P whether the pipe be horizontally disposed, as shown in the drawings, or vertically disposed, and that the head is such as to enable'an operator to manipulate the neck and consequently the nozzle into any desired position. `The means G and H incorporated in the head make for free smooth operation of the head and the head construction involving b'utthree main sections D, E and F related as shown in Fig. 3, provides a continuous smooth iiow passage between the pipe P and the neck A. It will be apparent how the lock means J and Kmay be utilized when desired to set parts of the head against relative movement so that the operation of the neck and nozzle may be limited or set, as circumstances may require.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the speciiic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination two tubular sections, means rotatably coupling the sections, and lock means engageable to hold the sections against relative rotation including, a lock flange xed on and projecting radially from one section, a lock pin, spaced lugs fixed on and projecting from the exterior of the other section and carrying the pin for rotation and reciproeation, and a spring normally yieldingly urging the pin into engagement with the flange, the pin having a handle projecting therefrom and movable into and out of engagement with said other section by rotation of the pin to hold the pin retracted from the ilange.

2. In combination two tubular sections, one a female section having a socket portion with an axial socket opening therein and the other a male section with a pin portion entering the said opening from the outer end of the female section, antifriction means rotatably coupling the sections including, axially spaced annular series of bearing balls in the socket opening and engaged between the said pin and socket portion, and lock means engageable to hold the sections against relative rotation including, an annular lock iiange xed on and projecting radially from the male section adjacent the outer end of the female section, a lock pin, spaced lugs projecting from the exterior of the socket portion and slidably and rotatably supporting the pin parallel with the socket portion and adjacent thereto at the exterior thereof, a shoulder on the female section adjacent one of the lugs, a spring on the pin between the lugs normally yieldinglly urging the pin into engagement with the ange, and a handle on the pin operable by rotation of the pin into and out of engagement with the shoulder and holding the pin retracted from the ange when engaged with said shoulder.

DOYLE C. WARREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

